U.S. CONTINUES MARCH TOWARDS GOLD CUP TITLE WITH QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP AGAINST CUBAThe U.S. MNT continues its defense of the Gold Cup title when they face Cuba this afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on Univision. Fans can follow the action live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics. The United States met Cuba in last year's edition of the Gold Cup, winning 1-0 in the second match of Group A. Brian McBride scored from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute to improve the USA's all-time record against Cuba to 3-1-1, and ensuring their advancement to the quarterfinals.

QUICK HITS

- Collecting the shutout win against Martinique, U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller has now recorded six consecutive shutouts in Gold Cup play, a streak of 622 minutes. The last time the USA gave up a goal during the event was at the 38th minute of the first half in the 2-1 victory against Korea Republic on January 19, 2002- Keller is level with Tony Meola on the USA’s all-time shutout list with 32 career clean sheets, accomplishing the feat in 35 fewer games than Meola. Remarkably, Keller has recorded shutouts in 50 percent of his games with the MNT since his international career began in 1990- Keller is enjoying a remarkable unbeaten run on home soil, amassing a 17-0-4 record in matches played in the United States since 1998. Keller is second on the USA’s all-time goalkeeping list for victories (34)- The United States has not given up a goal in its last 428 minutes of action. Earning four straight shutouts, the U.S. defense has not surrendered a goal since the 22nd minute of the 1-0 loss to Brazil on June 21 in the Confederations Cup. - Brian McBride’s continues to move up in the record books. With 23 goals, McBride sits one behind Joe-Max Moore (24) for second place on the USA’s all-time scoring list- With eight career goals in the Gold Cup, McBride is now third all-time in the scoring ledger behind Mexican forward Zague (12) and former U.S. international Eric Wynalda (9)- Recording two assists against Martinique, Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston upped his scoring total to one goal and three assists in five appearances for the MNT in 2003. Ralston has provided the service on all three of Brian McBride’s goals in the Gold Cup. He scored his first career international goal in the 4-0 win against Canada on Jan. 18 in Ft. Lauderdale- With the victory against Martinique, the U.S. increased its lifetime record in Gold Cup group play to 16-0-0, including 10 shutouts- Frankie Hejduk hit the half-century mark in the 2-0 win against Martinique. The two-time World Cup veteran has 50 caps for the MNT, and has started and played every minute in the USA’s last seven Gold Cup matches- Bobby Convey is the only U.S. player to appear in all 13 of the team’s matches in 2003. Making eight starts, Convey has logged two assists in 802 minutes of action- Landon Donovan tops the U.S. scoring charts in 2003, his three goals and three assists include game-winners against Wales (5/26) and Paraguay (7/6)

ONALFO BREAKS DOWN CUBAU.S. assistant coach Curt Onalfo provided the scouting report on the island nation of Cuba in advance of today's Gold Cup quarterfinal. Onalfo, who is responsible for the MNT's video editing, talks about Cuba's strengths and weaknesses, key players, and what to expect when they take the field today ...link: /teams/mens/cgc/index.jsp.html

CONCACAF GOLD CUP FACTThe USA has not lost a Gold Cup match in regulation since the 1998 event, going 8-0-2 over a string of 10 matches. The U.S. last fell 1-0 to Mexico in the '98 championship match before 91,255 spectators at the L.A. Coliseum in Los Angeles. Twice the team has gone to penalty kicks after tying matches in regulation time, knocked out of the 2000 Gold Cup by Colombia in the quarterfinals, then advancing to last year's championship final with a penalty-kick victory against Canada.

For all the latest updated results, standings, news and information, log onto to the Gold Cup section at ussoccer.com